Banisteriopsis caapi (cv) `Da Vine`

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Banisteriopsis caapi plant named &#39;Da Vine&#39; which is particularly characterized by the rose color of its flower petals which fade with age to near white, and its medicinal properties.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of application Ser. No. 266,114, filed on May 21, 1981 now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a new and distinct variety (cultivar) of the species Banisteriopsis caapi. The plant was discovered by and caused to be asexually reproduced from cuttings by applicant. All asexual reproductions of the plant show that the plant is stable, being true to the form to the discovered plant in all distinguishing respects.

The new plant is named `Da Vine`. This plant was discovered growing in a domestic garden in the Amazon rain-forest of South America. The instant plant presents flower petals which are rose colored fading to white with age. The instant plant may be distinguished from the species per se in flower color, B. caapi having pale pink flowers fading to pale yellow.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The instant plant may be particularly distinguished from typical forms of B. caapi by the following list of outstanding characteristics:

1. Leaves of different sizes, shapes, and texture. (see chart)

2. `Da Vine` has different size pedicels than are typical for B. cappi. (see chart)

3 The instant plant is more pubescent than is seen in the species. (see chart)

4. In flower petal color and size. (see chart)

5. `Da Vine` has no samaras. (nut)

The subject plant is being investigated for its medicinal value in cancer treatment and psycho-therapy. It is useful in treating post-encephalytic Parkinsonism and angina pectoris. It also has antiseptic, bactericidal properties and has both amoebicidal and antihelmentic action. It is an attractive house plant which seasonally blooms.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 shows the flower parts of the novel plant at various stages after opening and while attached to a vine.

FIG. 2 depicts foliage.

FIG. 3 shows the vine habit of the plant.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF PLANT

The following botanical description of the plant is based on observation of a mature specimen growing at Harold Lyon Arboreteum, Oahu, Hi., under semi-tropical, outside conditions. Color specifications of the flower petals are in accordance with Color Standards and Color Nomenclature by R. Ridgway, 1912. Other color descriptions are in accordance with: Dictionary of Colour Standards, 1951 British Colour Council 10a Chandes St., London. Horticultural Colour Chart, Vol. I, 1939 British Colour Council, Wilson Colour, Ltd. Horticultural Colour Chart, Vol. II, 1941 British Colour Council, Wilson Colour, Ltd.

Name: Banisteriopsis caapi (cv) `Da Vine`.

Parentage: Unknown, apparently a chance seedling.

Plant type: Tropical perennial flowering vine, an understory plant in jungles in the Amazon basin in the wild. Houseplant.

Tenderness:

Cold, hardiness.--Unknown.

Sensitivity to light.--Unknown.

Vigor: Growth rate: unknown because we constantly prune the vine. However, it is definitely a fast growing plant with a growth rate of at least 5-10 m per year, when young.

Habit: Woody vine (liana) tropical perennial, shrub, small tree.

Branching: Opposite branching.

Stems:

Color.--Young stem -- Emerald Green 758 (Hort. Colour Chart). Old Stem -- Spinach Green 960 (Hort. Colour Chart). Bark -- Mink BBC 169 (Dict. of Colour Standards). Wood -- Canary Yellow 2/3 (Hort. Colour Chart).

Buds: 1-3 mm long.

Internode length.--5-25 cm.

Thickness.--3-15 mm.

Strength.--Brittle, bark is somewhat fibrous and strong; young branches moderately appressed sericeous, becoming glabrate with age; older branches glabrous, terete, with brown bark becoming fissured with shallow longitudinal groves, lenticels numerous, conspicuous, vascular tissues appearingto be divided into distinct bundles upon drying. Stipules, present, small, triangular.

Foliage:

Shape.--Lanceolate, the apex acuminate or somewhat cuspidate.

Margin.--Entire, somewhat undulating.

Arrangement on stems: Opposite.

Color:

Young leaf.--Above: Veronese Green 660 (Hort. Colour Chart).Below: Veronese Green 660/1 (Hort. Colour Chart). Old leaf: Above: Parsley Green 962 (Hort. Colour Chart). Below: Lettuce Green 861 (Hort Colour Chart).

Aspect: When young, appressed sericeous beneath and on veins and mid-rib above, glabrate beneath and glabrous above with age.

Venation: Feather-veined (11-13 primary veins).

Size: 6-16 cm. long. 2-7 cm. wide.

Petioles: Length -- (15-30 mm). Color -- Lettuce Green 861/3 (Hort. Colour Chart). Glands -- (2-6) pairs. Angle to stem -- (45 deg.-60 deg.). Sericeous when young, glabrous with age.

Reduced leaves: Often present.

Inflorescence: Axillary, appearing paniculate, length up to 30 cm. cymosely branched with ultimate division a 3-5 flowered umbel, bracts and bracteoles small, falling early, triangular to lanceolate 0.5-1.5 mm long, sparsely to densly appressed sericeous to tomentose.

Reduced leaves: Often present.

Flowers: Perfect.

Corolla:

Petals.--Five lobed, fimbriate, the four lateral petals reflexed between the sepals.

Size.--Lateral lobes with claw 1.0-1.8 mm long, limb 4-6 mm long, 3-5 mm broad, fimbriate, the posterior petal erect, the claw 1.5-3.0 mm long, the limb 7-8 mm long, 6-8 mm broad, fimbriate.

Color.--Rose-Ridgway plate 12 fading to white with age.

Shape.--Elliptic to obovate, with claw.

Venation.--Palmate.

Aspect.--Glabrous.

Margin.--Finely serrate.

Stamens: Numerous.

Filaments.--Thick, numerous, of uneven length, 2-4 mm long.

Color.--Yellow.

Anthers.--Numerous, large of uneven maturity, basifixed 1-1.3 mm long.

Color.--Yellow.

Ovary.--Single, 1-1.2 mm tall, densely sericeous.

Pistils.--Shorter than filaments. Stigma: inferior to anthers. Color: yellow.

Sepals (calyx).--Five, reintrant alternating with petals. tips embracing filaments and styles, the lobes ovate-lanceolate, 3 mm long densely sericeous. Tips: Outwardly curled. Color: Light green.

Aspect.--Densely sericeous. Length: 4 mm.

Pedicels: Appressed sericeous or densely tomento sericeous, 3-15 mm long.

Bracteoles: Densely tomento sericeous, 1-1.3 mm long.

Fruit: Unobserved to date.

    ______________________________________                                         Character                                                                               B. caapi         DA VINE                                              ______________________________________                                         Leaf size                                                                               (4.8-) 8.2-15.9 (-20.5)                                                                         9-14.7 cm long                                                cm long × (2.5-) 3.5-7.7                                                                  3.5-5.8 cm. broad                                             (-11.5) cm wide                                                       Leaf shape                                                                              broadly ovate to ovate                                                                          ovate-elliptic to                                                              ovate-lanceolate                                     Leaf texture                                                                            coriaceous       chartaceous                                          Pedicel  7-11 mm          3-15 mm                                              length                                                                         Pubescence                                                                              very sparsely appressed -                                                                       densely appressed -                                  on underside                                                                            sericeous to glabrate                                                                           sericeous, esp.                                      of young leaf             along midrib                                         Pubescence                                                                              sparsely appressed -                                                                            densely appressed -                                  on young sericeous to glabrate                                                                           sericeous                                            branches                                                                       Petal color                                                                             pale pink becoming                                                                              rose, becoming white                                          pale yellow with age                                                                            with age                                             Lateral petal                                                                           limb 5.0-8.5 mm ×                                                                         limb 4.0-6.0 mm ×                              size     4.0-6.0 mm       3.0-5.0 mm                                           Posterior                                                                               limb 5.0-7.0 mm ×                                                                         limb 7.0-8.0 mm ×                              petal size                                                                              2.5-4.5 mm       6.0-8.0 mm                                           ______________________________________                                    

General observations: The plant appears to be seasonal in its flowering with flowering observed to occur from December through late March in Oahu, Hi. The plant parts are generally uniform in size throughout the plant; flower size and sizes of flowers parts are nearly identical as observed at Harold Lyon Arboretum, University of Hawaii, Oahu. 

I claim:
 1. The new and unique Banisteriopsis caapi plant substantially as described and illustrated. 